Improved detachable buoyant ship s deck



JOSEPH SAWYER OF SEBEWAING, MICHIGAN.

Letters Patent No. 96,841, dated November 16, 1869.

IMPROVED DETACHABLE BUOYANT SHIPS DECK.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To whomt't may concern Be it known that I, J osera SAWYER, of Sebewaing, in the county of Huron, and State of Michigan,

i in tig. 1.

This invention relates to an improved construction of a portion, or the entire hurricane-deck or cabin-roof of a steam-vessel, so that the same may readily be detached from the vessel, should she sink, and, heilig buoyant, will serve as a raft, to preserve the lives of the passengers and crew.

1t .consists in constructing a part or the whole of the hurricane-deck .with double walls, forming compartments, in which air-vessels or cork may be placed,

to increase the buoyancy of the raft, for such .it be-l comes when the vessel sinks, and in the method of seeming it to the walls of the cabins and stanchions,v so that, when necessary, it may be quickly detached therefrom.

In the drawings- A represents asection of the cabin-deck of a steamer, and f B, a section of the hurricane-deck, supported by and secured to the stanchions C, in the usual manuel'.

D represents my improvement, forming an extension toward the stern of the hurricane-deck C; and consists of a deck proper, a, and a ceiling, b, secured to the ordinary deck-carlins, and enclosed by a side wall, c, forming compartments, which may be calked air-tight, or iilled with cork, E ,'or air-tight vessels of sheet-metal may be placed within the compartments,

to give the deck greater buoyancy, when it is required to be used as a raft The detachable deck rests upon the cabin-walls (which are not shown) and upon 'the stanchions F, which' are provided with proper shoulders for that purpose.

The upper ends of the stanchions are turned to a smaller diameter than their bodies, and project up through the deck, as at f, and the deck is secured in place by keys, g, driven'` through slots in the upper ends of said sta-uchions. v

G is a locker, closed by a hatch, in the deck. In the locker, a supply of provisions, matches, lanterns, and signals, should be kept ready foruse in emergency. f

A proper railing should also be erected around the edge of the deck, to prevent persons on it from being 'washed ci?, when used as a raft.

Should the vessel to which my improvement is applied,y from any cause, be about to founder, the pas-t sengers and crew retire to my deck, the keys g are then withdrawn from the slots in the stanchions, and as y therefrom after the vessel hasl gone down.

'What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The detachable double-walled buoyant deck D, provided with compartments for receiving air-vessels, cork, or other buoya'nt material, and secured to the ystanchions or cabin-walls, in any convenient manner that will permit of its being readily detached therefrom.

2. In combination with the deck D, a locker or receptacle, G, formed therein, for the purpose specified.

JOSEPH SAWYER.

Witnesses:

ALBERT InloN, A. G. PIERCE. 

